Host RHS golfers sixth in OC Tourney

Playing at Oak Meadow Country Club, the host Rolla High School boys' golf team was hoping for some home-course magic during Monday's Ozark Conference Tournament.It didn't happen.The Bulldog golfers finished a distant sixth in the league tournament, held in mild but windy conditions at OMCC's par-70 course.The West Plains Zizzers ended Joplin's two-year run as OC golf champions. West Plains finished with 312 to earn this year's team crown while Joplin was runner-up with 315 and Springfield Kickapoo third with 320.Rolla shot 335.There was a three-way tie for first place in the competition for individual medalist honors. Senior Griffin Locke and junior Nick Yuhas of Joplin and senior Caleb Abalos of Springfield Hillcrest all shot 5-over-par 75 to lead the way, forcing a playoff.Abalos was eliminated in the first playoff hole, leaving Locke and Yuhas remained deadlocked until the second extra hole, which Locke birdied to gain medalist honors.The Bulldogs did have two golfers on the all-conference team, as Mark Martin tied for fifth with 77 and Jake Drewniak tied for 10th with 80.Rolla is scheduled to compete in the Missouri Class 4 District 5 Tournament next Monday at Greene Hills Country Club in Willard, starting at 9 a.m. Other schools in the district event will be Camdenton, Springfield Central, Columbia Hickman, Jefferson City, Lebanon, Columbia Rock Bridge, Sedalia Smith-Cotton, Waynesville and Willard.